Wire harness integrated with rotational mold

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method comprising rotationally molding a snout of a corn row divider assembly, the snout comprising a double-walled structure; rotationally molding a first conduit into a surface of the double-walled structure, the first conduit extending from an aft end of the snout to a location proximal to the fore end of the snout; attaching a sensor to the snout at a location proximal to the fore end of the snout; inserting a first wire harness into the first conduit, the first wire harness extending between the aft end of the snout and the location proximal to the fore end; and connecting the first wire harness to the sensor.

At least the following is claimed: 
     
       1. A corn header, comprising:
 a frame; 
 a cross auger coupled to the frame; 
 a corn row divider assembly comprising a snout and gatherer hood hingeably coupled to, and aft of, the snout, the snout and gatherer hood each comprising a double wall having an interior surface, the interior surface comprising a conduit molded into the interior surface; 
 a sensor attached to the snout; 
 a first wire harness comprising a plurality of bundled wires electrically coupled to the sensor, wherein the first wire harness is disposed within the conduit molded into the snout. 
 
     
     
       2. The corn header of  claim 1 , further comprising a second wire harness disposed within the conduit of the gatherer hood, the second wire harness coupled to the first wire harness between the aft end of the snout and the fore end of the gatherer hood, the second wire harness further coupled to a control panel. 
     
     
       3. The corn header of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one connector at a coupling location between the first and second wire harness, the at least one connector detachably connecting the first and second wire harnesses. 
     
     
       4. The corn header of  claim 2 , wherein the wires of the first and second wire harness are the same wires. 
     
     
       5. The corn header of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one connector adjacent the aft end of the gatherer hood, wherein the second wire harness is detachably coupled to third wire harness that terminates at the control panel. 
     
     
       6. The corn header of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is a rotationally molded structure. 
     
     
       7. A corn header, comprising:
 a frame; 
 a cross auger coupled to the frame; 
 a corn row divider assembly comprising a snout and gatherer hood hingeably coupled to, and aft of, the snout, the snout and gatherer hood each comprising a double wall having an interior surface, the interior surface comprising a wire harness molded into the interior surface. 
 
     
     
       8. The corn header of  claim 7 , wherein the wire harness of the snout comprises a first wire harness molded into the interior surface of the snout, wherein one end of the first wire harness is electrically coupled to a sensor attached to the snout. 
     
     
       9. The corn header of  claim 8 , wherein another end of the first wire harness is detachably connected to a first connector. 
     
     
       10. The corn header of  claim 7 , wherein the wire harness of the gatherer hood comprises a second wire harness molded into the interior surface of the gatherer hood, wherein one end of the second wire harness is detachably connected to a second connector. 
     
     
       11. The corn header of  claim 7 , wherein the wire harness of the gatherer hood comprises a second wire harness molded into the interior surface of the gatherer hood, wherein opposing ends of the second wire harness are detachably connected to respective connectors. 
     
     
       12. The corn header of  claim 7 , further comprising a jumper wire coupled between the wire harness of the snout and the wire harness of the gatherer hood. 
     
     
       13. The corn header of  claim 12 , wherein the jumper wire comprises a connector on each end. 
     
     
       14. The corn header of  claim 7 , wherein the wire harness of the snout and the gatherer hood each comprises a plurality of bundled wires. 
     
     
       15. The corn header of  claim 7 , wherein the wire harness comprises an insert of a rotationally molded interior surface, the insert part of a rotationally molded process. 
     
     
       16. A method, comprising:
 rotationally molding a snout of a corn row divider assembly, the snout comprising a double-walled structure; 
 rotationally molding a first conduit into a surface of the double-walled structure, the first conduit extending from an aft end of the snout to a location proximal to the fore end of the snout; 
 attaching a sensor to the snout at a location proximal to the fore end of the snout; 
 inserting a first wire harness into the first conduit, the first wire harness extending between the aft end of the snout and the location proximal to the fore end; and 
 connecting the first wire harness to the sensor. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 rotationally molding a gatherer hood of the corn row divider assembly, the gatherer hood comprising a double-walled structure; 
 rotationally molding a second conduit into a surface of the double-walled structure of the gatherer hood, the second conduit extending from an aft end of the gatherer hood to a location proximal to the fore end of the gatherer hood; 
 inserting a second wire harness into the second conduit, the second wire harness extending between the aft end of the gatherer hood and the location proximal to the fore end; and 
 connecting the second wire harness to the first wire harness.